Sadly overlooked as one of the hidden gems of last generation, the original NieR was an action RPG released 7 years ago that told a story about a man trying to save his daughter from a seemingly incurable disease in a post-apocalyptic world nearing its end. Though it didn't release to critical acclaim, it resonated with many passionate fans who praise its story and music to this day. Directed by none other than Yoko Taro - yes, this guy - it shunned expectations and left a mark all its own, combining genres and shocking players with its raw storytelling. (Text Adventure Pun Intended)

NieR: Automata is an Open World Action RPG that places a strong focus on storytelling. Though you don't need to have played it to enjoy the game, NieR Automata takes place thousands of years after Ending E of the original NieR. Unlike the original however, Yoko Taro & his crew are this time backed up by Platinum Games, known for their high quality action games like the Bayonetta Series & Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, and they've been given almost complete creative freedom by publisher Square Enix.

In short, NieR: Automata is set to combine more of the deep, surprising storytelling of the original with a completely redone combat system created by some of the best action game developers in the business.

What if I want to play the original first?

If that's what you want to do, you should take a look at Amazon for your country, or a local game store to see if they have any used copies. Otherwise, you should be just fine catching up to speed with either - or both - of these:

Yoko Taro games include multiple endings, branching paths, and alternate stories, and as with all Yoko Taro games, there will be 'endings' before the actual end of the game - usually to mark timelines or reveal additional information - as a result, to experience the full story of the game and get to the true ending, expect 25-30 hours. If you want to collect/upgrade/explore/do everything, then expect 55+ hours.

Upon completing the first story route in the game (Route A), players are presented with the above message from Square Enix. Remember to play through the entire game, everyone!

Game Synopsis

The distant future…

Invaders from another world attack without warning, unleashing a new type of threat: weapons known as “machine lifeforms.” In the face of this insurmountable threat, mankind is driven from Earth and takes refuge on the Moon.

The Council of Humanity organizes a resistance of android soldiers in an effort to take back their planet. To break the deadlock, the Resistance deploys a new unit of android infantry: YoRHa.

In the forsaken wasteland below, the war between the machines and the androids rages on. A war that is soon to unveil the long-forgotten truth of this world...

Okay, but why should I buy NieR: Automata?

I could just say it's to give this guy more money & more chances to get his crazy stories out there and be done with it - but that wouldn't be giving it enough credit. Knowing that, here are some highlights of what you can expect going into NieR: Automata:

Platinum, on the Top of their Game:

NieR: Automata combines smooth 60FPS gameplay inspired by Metal Gear Rising Revengeance & Bayonetta with RPG systems new & old and a seamless open world. Control 2B, 9S, and A2 as you use both melee and ranged attacks (often at the same time) against ever changing enemies & bosses in a battle to retake the planet from the machine lifeforms. Combine and combo inputs to open up entirely new attacks, pair up different weapons to allow for new combos or even simply switch your weapons around to discover completely new attack trees & specials.

The Heart of an RPG:

Described by the game's producer (Yosuke Saito) as "60-70% RPG, 30-40% Action", NieR: Automata invites players to obtain new weapons, unlock their stories, level up, pick weapon combinations that work for them out of multiple weapon types (each with their own strengths and weaknesses), and customize their characters attributes, move sets, and even HUD through installing and uninstalling plugin chips. (Just avoid uninstalling that OS Chip!) All of this is in addition to the Pod Support System, which can be outfitted with battle upgrades, maneuverability enhancements, or both.

Yoko Taro's Wild Ride:

If you've already watched Clemp's analysis videos for the NieR and Drakengard series, or played the games yourself then you know what I'm talking about. Call him a mad genius, a tortured artist, a weirdo, whatever; Yoko Taro puts out some of the weirdest, most shocking & touching stories in video games out there today, and he does it while switching genres, camera angles, and subverting expectations at every opportunity. Ever wanted to see how an Action RPG can go from Boar Racing to Top Down Shooter to Side Scroller to Bullet Hell Game to Text Adventure and back to Action RPG again? Now you can.

Souls in the Shell:

In a wonderful story-related combination of the above three points that will be immediately familiar to fans of the Souls games, NieR: Automata features a mechanic called the Reliquary System. (Android System in Japanese) When you 'die', your old body stays behind - with your items and plugin chips - and your memories/data are uploaded into a new body. If you come across your old body again, you can either retrieve your old body & equipment for a bonus, or reactivate it as an ally. If too long has passed, however, it may have become corrupt and will revive as an enemy, in which case you'll have to defeat your previous self. (Doing so grants a larger bonus than a regular Body Retrieval) If you fall against your past self, or fail to make it back to your body at all, your plugin chips & items will be lost. If you're online, you can even come across the bodies of other fallen YoRHa androids. Coupled with this feature are messages that you can leave for other players, which you can use to either warn or mislead.

Full Customization:

If adjusting your HUD, character attributes, weapon upgrades, and plug-in chips wasn't enough, NieR: Automata also features full controller customization & button mapping. If you don't want to use R2 to dodge, or play on Hard and don't need the lock-on, feel free to remap the controls as you see fit.

NieR: Automata is an Open World Action RPG that places a strong focus on storytelling. Though you don't need to have played it to enjoy the game, NieR Automata takes place thousands of years after Ending E of the original NieR.

I really hope that it manages to really sweep me off my feet all over again like the first installment did last generation. One of my favorite titles receiving a follow-up that I never expected with involvement from Platinum Games being the little cheery on top that'll probably mark this as another memorable escapade from Yoko Taro! March 7th can't arrive soon enough!

Oh fuck, this game comes out this month too? And here I was worried I wouldn't have time for Horizon with Zelda on the... horizon. Guess HZD is gonna have to wait, that Nier demo was just too fucking good and took me by complete surprise. Hadn't had that much fun with an action game since Revengaence.